Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro Dolby Atmos Projector Review: Big, Brilliant

Anker's Nebula line has fueled this growth, with a host of brilliantly compact, highly impressive projectors packed with the latest streaming tech you can take just about anywhere.

They’re not the only ones, and WIRED has tested dozens of projectors over the past few years, watching as the screen brightness and resolution has improved to the point where some are good enough to compete with your TV .

And then there’s the Anker Nebula X1 Pro, sold under the brand name Soundcore.

Weighing in at a hefty 72.3 pounds, it boasts a loud 400-watt Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 sound system for the latest spatial cinematic audio, and a triple-laser pixel-shifted 4K display (no more bulbs!) that boasts a bright 3,500 ANSI lumens .

When I tested the Nebula X1, Anker supplied me with a pair of $700 wireless stereo speakers that elevated the experience exponentially.

These same speakers are now onboard the X1 Pro, and extend out on motorized arms at the touch of a button like little antennas.

At the back of the main body you’ll also find two pop-out multidirectional-firing wireless stereo speakers, that, when combined with the large subwoofer built into the chassis, completes a proper 400-watt Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 system.

It's like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Each speaker has sturdy little pop-out legs, and once positioned correctly they transformed my living room into a mini, but mighty multiplex.

Anker has dipped its toe here before, with last year’s $800 Nebula P1 Portable , the “world’s first projector with detachable speakers.” With just 650 ANSI lumens, it’s not bright enough, and visually incomparable to the X1 Pro (although at 5.2 pounds, it’s a whole lot more portable).

Audio transmission uses a proprietary 5.8-GHz wireless link instead of Bluetooth to minimize latency and compression, and each satellite runs a respectable eight hours on battery.

Crucially, the speakers automatically calibrate using onboard microphones.

Place them around a room and the projector maps the listening position and balances channels without me lifting a finger.

The X1 Pro runs a full Google TV platform with access to all the major services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube, HBO Max, and Hulu, but if you want to connect an external source, there’s also HDMI, USB-C, and wireless casting.

As well as the four hidden surround sound speakers, the top of the unit lifts to reveal two wireless karaoke microphones and a full remote control.

I’ve tested these mics before with the X1 and at least two people in my house were delighted to see them back.

The X1 Pro is enormous, and despite having built-in wheels and a retractable luggage-style handle, it is an unwieldy lump of technology.

Once manhandled into position, all the exertion feels worthwhile, because it is truly a futuristic dream to setup and use.

As with other Nebula projectors, the process is heavily automated.

Focus, keystone correction (where it adjusts the shape of the screen to be perfectly rectangular), alignment, and obstacle avoidance run automatically, and a motorized optical system remembers placement between sessions.

I did have to tweak the position of the screen on one occasion, but it’s a simple enough task, using the remote or the Nebula Connect app.

During three weeks of testing—encompassing two karaoke nights, multiple movie marathons, Winter Olympics screenings, and a full-on tween Galentine’s Day party—I tried the X1 Pro in a series of locations and screen sizes, from a modest 70 inches onto the fireplace to a whopping 100 inches onto a dedicated projector screen .

Each time, the setup was friction-free, with only the niggling need for streaming platform downloads and passwords holding up our entertainment.

3,500 ANSI lumens is seriously bright, and I could happily watch content with the blinds up.

This makes a real difference when you're considering a projector against a large TV , and with the X1 and X1 Pro, Anker has pushed what’s possible with, ahem, “portable” projectors.

There’s not much competition here, and the X1 Pro sits at the crossroads of serious AV installation and casual viewing.

There are only a smattering of alternatives too, including the 4,000-lumen short-throw Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 and the intriguing 3,300-lumen JMGO N1S Ultimate .

Picture is still not as good as a great large television ; blacks are solid though, give or take a little washing-out, motion is smooth, and the sharpness of the image and vibrancy of colors makes for a hugely enjoyable watch.

It’s all impressive, and because I can slot the speakers away again and wheel the X1 Pro off into a corner, surprisingly practical.

With none of the technical know-how or installation costs, or interior-design disruption of a dedicated cinema room to factor in.

A clever negotiator could argue this makes the X1 Pro great value, if you’re lucky enough to have the space to hide it and a screen when not needed.

Despite the beer fridge dimensions, the Nebula X1 Pro is remarkably quiet.

This is thanks to a liquid cooling system—first used on the X1—that replaces a traditional fan.

It's brilliantly effective and means you don't have to pump up the volume to mask the machinery.

The brand claims it lowers noise to just 26 decibels—most portable projectors are rated 30 to 35 decibels—which isn't a huge difference, but trust me, the noise it does make isn't nearly as distracting as a fan.

There’s a small whirr as the lens settles itself, but even at a moderate—not movie night—volume, it is barely audible.

And don’t forget the karaoke!

Cinephiles might roll their eyes, but my rendition of Barry White’s “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” deserves the full subwoofer treatment.

It’s also twice the price of its smaller sibling, the excellent Anker Nebula X1 , which is currently being shipped with a free pair of $700 stereo speakers.

For the size of my house, my paycheck, and my need for “true” surround sound, this is the realistic buy.

If you’ve got the cash to splash, the space to store it, and muscles to move it, you won’t be disappointed by this thing.

It's a real, actual theater in a box.